Regional

1:36 pm

Tue September 14, 2010

Stolen Las Cruces Dog Returned; Suspects Still At Large

Las Cruces – The Boston bulldog that was taken Aug. 31 at knifepoint from a 79-year-old good Samaritan has been located and returned to its owner.

Las Cruces Police detectives learned that a woman, who does not wish to be identified, spotted the dog on Saturday, Sept. 11, with a man she believed to be homeless. The woman contacted the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley and the dog was confirmed to be the one stolen Aug. 31.

The dog appeared to be in good condition and was subsequently returned to its rightful owner.

Detectives learned that the dog was given to the homeless man by three young men. Those men are believed to be the same suspects who confronted the 79-year-old owner of the dog as he was helping a motorists jump-start a vehicle at 2215 N. Main St.

The 79-year-old man told detectives that one of the suspects, armed with a knife, lunged toward him and slashed his shirt while another suspect took the dog that was inside his pickup.

The victim was not physically injured during the incident.

Witnesses described the suspects as Hispanic men all wearing white T-shirts with black lettering. The three suspects left the area with the bulldog and headed westbound on foot.

If you have any information on the identity of the suspects you are asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a tip via text message to LCTIPS (528477).

The Crime Stoppers number and text messaging services are operational 24 hours a day and you do not have to give your name to collect a reward.